The Immortal Zugzwang Game: Duels of the Mind Game 8, by James O'Fee

The survey continues of the games included in Ray Keene's DVDs Duels of the Mind:The Twelve Best Games of Chess. The 4 DVDs are available as a package from

The London Chess Centre £24.95
and
The British Chess Magazine Shop £24.99 plus postage £1.50 UK, £3.00 overseas




Continued from Game 4:

Keene's 8th game features Latvian-born Master Aron Nimzowitsch, 1886-1935, and German Friedrich Sämisch (or Saemisch), 1896-1975.

Sämisch was a German Master who had imbibed the teachings of Steinitz's interpreter, Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934), "Germany's teacher"-"Praeceptor Germaniae". The name of Sämisch is preserved today in two important anti-Hypermodern openings. These 'Sämisch Variations' are used by White to attack the Nimzo-Indian and King's Indian Defences. The latter, certainly, remains critical and a popular favourite of White players faced with the King's Indian.

Nimzowitsch became a leading Grandmaster in the late 1920s and early 1930s, at one time perhaps 3rd only to Capablanca and Alekhine. Furthermore Nimzowitsch was one of the game's greatest-ever theoreticians, founder of the Hypermodern School and fiercely opposed to the Tarrasch School among whom he numbered Sämisch. His games with Sämisch therefore had an extra edge.

Nimzowitsch was a great self-publicist. He called himself the "Crown Prince of Chess" - that is, next after only Alekhine and Capablanca. And Nimzo gave this game the title "The Immortal Zugzwang Game". Afterwards others discovered its qualities. At the end of the Duels of the Mind series, Donald Woods - who examines the games along with Keene - declares this to be his favourite game of them all.

Halfway through, there seems nothing wrong with White's game, indeed his position looks the better. Then, through a series of powerful strokes including a piece sacrifice, Nimzowitsch ties his opponent in knots. Nimzo's 25th move, which forces resignation, is "the most inoffensive move ever seen on the chessboard".

You can play through "The Immortal Zugzwang Game " on ChessGames here.

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